2023 Goals
Children need a diet rich in nutrients, including fresh fruits and vegetables, to grow, learn and thrive.
Goal 1: Build nutrition security among Greater Portland children and families by sharing more than half a million pounds of fresh produce and healthy staples each year. We partner with more than 45 schools and agencies to reach families who lack reliable access to nutrient-dense food. We share a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, bread, meat and staples, including items culturally important to New Mainers. The Locker Project is a last-mile program—we share healthy food at convenient locations, including schools, parks and community centers, to reduce the obstacles families face to being well-nourished. We source produce and staples from Good Shepherd Food Bank, including locally grown produce from Mainers Feeding Mainers. We rescue fresh food from local markets—about 200,000 pounds each year—that would otherwise go to waste.
Goal 2: Increase awareness of the critical role childhood nutrition plays in the health and well-being of Maine families. Our e-newsletters and social media channels provide information about child hunger and nutrition along with updates on our programs and the communities we serve. Our fresh food programs provide children with early exposure to the nutrient-dense foods they need. Our community-based events engage kids and families in discussions with staff and volunteers about healthy diets.
Fundraising/Event Opportunities
To meet the growing need for fresh food among the families we serve, we are moving to a larger space in South Portland in September 2022. Our goal is to raise $60,000 for site improvements, including a new 288-square-foot walk-in cooler for produce and dairy, and freezers for bread and meat.
School-Year Pantry Sponsorships: Businesses can sponsor the Locker Project in a Portland, South Portland, or Westbrook school by donating $1,500 or more. Sponsorship funds defray the costs of procuring and distributing healthy food and coordinating the program.
Welcome to the Table: In May 2022, we published our first cookbook, featuring recipes from Westbrook community members. Donors can request a cookbook for themselves, and we’ll give one to a family at risk of hunger.
Giving Opportunities
Participate in our Annual Appeal and #GivingTuesday: Each November, community members support our child hunger relief programs for the upcoming year by making a donation and/or hosting a food drive.
Become a Community Partner: Businesses who donate $500 (or the in-kind equivalent) enjoy acknowledgement on our website and social media and in our monthly newsletter for two years.
Join our Booster Club by committing to a monthly donation of any amount.
Volunteer Opportunities
For regular updates on ways to get involved, go to mainelockerproject.org and sign up to receive our e-newsletter. We have 100-plus active (and truly amazing!) volunteers who gather, transport, sort, and/or pack healthy food for distribution. Volunteers also help host our school- and community-based events, where kids and families can “shop” for fresh produce, meat and bread. Initial volunteer inquiry is through our website. After a brief orientation, we provide the link to our Signup Genius page, where volunteers can choose specific opportunities. Join us!
